Youth sports psychology articles and strategies for sports parents of young athletes to improve mental game and performance.
The Benefits of Youth Sports What are the extra and all-important benefits of sports for kids? That’s a question Dr. Steve Horan, an expert in community health improvement, asked himself after many years of being a coach and sports parent. “As you look at the numbers, so many kids drop … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Kids’ Motivation in Sports Your sports kids may show a fair amount of talent, but are seemingly not interested in meeting their potential. Many sports parents want to know how to motivate their kids, yet not pressure them. You’re unsure how much time you should spend reminding your kids that they … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Confidence Busters in Youth Sports Sports, at any level, are a game of confidence. Kids who have tons of confidence usually will rise above the competition. Under pressure, these kids’ performance will thrive because of their strong belief in their ability. We receive many emails from concerned sports parents stating that … Read Sport Psychology Tip
“Get Ready” Routines Some of the biggest mental game challenges for sports kids are distractions. When they’re practicing, playing or performing, kids get distracted when they worry about what others’ think of them. They also get distracted when a dog runs onto the field. Some kids get distracted when their … Read Sport Psychology Tip
Embracing a Coaching Philosophy In a recent survey by Youth Football USA, 69 percent of respondents said that their main concern was the quality of youth coaches, says Joe Bouffard, active director of Youth Football USA. The survey respondents had good reason to be concerned, he says. But first an … Read Sport Psychology Tip
In a recent survey of more than 700 sports parents and youth coaches, 40% of respondents told us that their kids struggle with doubts and negative thoughts about their performance. In addition, 70% of sports parents reported that their biggest challenge is understanding how to help their kids get the most out of their talents without pressuring their sports kids.